Russellville Kiwanis Club celebrates 63rd anniversaryService to the community is the driving force behind the Russellville Kiwanis Club. Chartered Dec. 20, 1951, the club continues to aid the youth of the River Valley and the community as a whole, while keeping its members and citizens at large apprised on issues that effect them. Membership in the association has almost tripled through the years with the active enrollment at 92 men and women. The large membership is attributed mainly to the loo...

Lemley family holds ceremony to honor ancestorDescendants of Ephraim Lemley, as well as their friends and neighbors attended a grave marking and dedication ceremony for him, a Veteran of the War of 1812. The ceremony, conducted by the Baseline-Meridian Chapter, United States Daughters of 1812 (U.S.D. 1812), was held Nov. 23 at the Rankin-Kinslow Cemetery in Appleton. A total of 34 people attended the rural ceremony, including 21 Lemley descendants and spouses. The youngest five, Carter, C...

Hartley prepares to pass jewelry business on to daughterDiamonds really are Lee Ann Hartley’s best friend — or at least, her favorite type of jewelry. But after more than 30 years of handling some of the Arkansas River Valley’s most precious gems, the owner of Lee Ann’s Fine Jewelry will soon retire. Rachel Hardester will take her mother’s place as owner of the jewelry store, but the order of business at Lee Ann’s will remain the same. “Everything will be the same as it always has been,” Hartley sa...

Dinosaurs exist in Plank’s ‘iron zoo’Just because dinosaurs no longer walk the Earth doesn’t mean they can’t stand there — in fact, they do exactly that at the home of Dean Plank across the Pope/Johnson county line on State Highway 164 West. Plank, who retired from Arkansas Nuclear One about eight years ago after more than 20 years as a radiation protection specialist, has constructed an “iron zoo,” which includes many creatures from prehistoric times as well as present-day anima...

World War II veterans receive Quilts of ValorQuilts of Valor were recently presented to Russellville American Legion World War II veterans. Representative from the Quilts of Valor organization gave the quilts to the local veterans during a recent meeting at American Legion Post 20. The foundation’s mission is to cover service members and veterans touched by war with comforting and healing quilts. The service first issued quilts to those who returned from duty and were hospitalized due to...

Las Vegas headliner coming to RussellvilleElvis tribute artist Donny Edwards will perform at 7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 8 at The Center for the Arts in Russellville. Edwards will be making his first appearance at the Center For The Arts. Recently Donny was selected by 'Elvis Presley Enterprises' as the first and only Elvis tribute artist to perform on the estate of Graceland. He will take you through the early years and Elvis' 70's concert years. Donny is a two time world champion Elvis trib...

Wade Rivers: bringing Hollywood to ArkansasDuring the era of World War II, Arkansas businessmen began an effort to change the state’s national perception from its origins as a frontier state. Forming a group known as the Committee of 100, these businessmen dubbed Arkansas as the “Land of Opportunity.” Arkansas has long since shed the committee’s nickname, taking on the description of “The Natural State” in 1995. But according to Arkansas resident Wade Rivers, the natural state should n...

Breathing the breath of lifeA 17-year-old high school graduate finally awoke from anesthesia on the afternoon of June 6, 2011. While most guys his age were sitting in bean-bag chairs playing video games, he had undergone a two-hour surgical procedure to repair a severely collapsed lung. His parents and aunt looked on anxiously as his eyes slowly opened. A silly grin stretched across his face as he lifted his hand to form a “thumbs up” gesture and signaled he was going to...

“Man Shot Dead”: the stitches of timeIt is said that time heals all wounds. The cliché may carry age-old layers of dust, but the expression holds a great deal of meaning to independent film producer and director Taylor Feltner and his family. It tells a story that goes back to a warm July night in 1966 in Houston, Texas. Young mother Bernie Dickson and her three young daughters, Glenna, Wanda and Karen, await the arrival of 35-year-old Glen Wade Dickson, husband and father. But h...

Elvis impersonator coming to townStrap on your blue suede shoes, pop up your jacket collar and get ready to shake those hips because the King is coming to Russellville. Donny Edwards is coming to the Center For The Arts for a single performance of “One Night With Elvis” that promises to be a good time. Edwards is a two-time world champion Elvis Tribute Artist who has performed on hit television shows such as NBC’s “Next Best Thing” and “The Young and the Restless.” He has als...

Country royalty to perform May 1The day Georgette Jones was born, record producer Billy Sherrill was ready with a signed record contract. The new parents, George Jones and Tammy Wynette, were after all considered country music royalty. “I think it was more a gesture than anything else,” Georgette Jones said with a laugh. “Billy Sherrill was such great friends with my parents and they had such a love for each other’s music that I think he wanted first dibs if I had a music ca...

Taste of the Valley to showcase local cuisineThe 22nd Annual Taste of the Valley, Main Street Russellville’s award-winning tasting party and signature fundraiser will be held on Thursday, April 24 from 5-8 p.m. at the Russellville Depot at 320 W. C St. Taste of the Valley showcases area restaurants, bakeries, caterers, delicatessens and coffeehouses, as well as Arkansas vineyards. At press time the list of 33 exhibitors includes ABOUT the River Valley Magazine’s drink booth, Al’s Gourmet...

Sherwood Urgent Care opens new centerSherwood Urgent Care, an affiliate of Urgent Team, is pleased to announce the opening of its new center in Russellville. This will be the seventh Sherwood Urgent Care location in Arkansas. The center opened its doors to patients in the Russellville area on January 13. “We are very excited to have opened a new location in Arkansas as it is our goal to provide a variety of locations that are convenient and close to where people live and work,” s...

Ina May and Anna MaryIna May Gaskin is often considered the mother of the modern midwife movement in the United States. Born into an Iowa farming family, in 1971 she and her husband help to found a commune in Summertown, Tennessee known today as the Farm. Ina May and several other midwives living on the Farm created the Farm Midwifery Center, one of the first non-hospital based birth centers in the United States. From the 1970s through today, women come from hundr...

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Meredith Martin-MoatsThe Courier Your Messenger For The River Valley

4 inducted into Beaux Arts AcademyThe River Valley Arts Center will induct a 2012 Performing and Visual Artist, Patron of the Arts, and Lifetime Award recipient into the Beaux Arts Academy at an Awards Banquet and Presentation April 12 at Russellville Country Club. “We have another impressive line-up this year,” said John Gale, president of the Arts Center Board of Directors. For more than 31 years Arts Center has worked to improve the understanding, appreciation and importanc...

Center Valley students fueled up, ready to goStudents and faculty at Center Valley Elementary School utilized a different type of play book this school year to educate, promote and live a comprehensive healthy lifestyle. In November, the school received a $2,000 grant from the Midwest Dairy Council to support its Fuel Up to Play 60 initiative. School nurse Tiffany Miller said a unique aspect of Fuel Up To Play 60 is the program’s intertwining of teaching and promoting nutrition and physi...

Get up, Get out, Get healthyOn May 4, Bona Dea Park is the place to be to get active, get healthy, and learn more about organizations in town offering ways to get healthy and stay healthy. The “Come on Get Healthy” 5K/community event begins with a 5K run/walk at 8 a.m., followed by a kids fun run at 9:30 a.m. and interactive demonstrations from 9 a.m. until noon. There will be live entertainment throughout the day and free health screenings available. “We really just wan...

Heart Month: A good time to start being heart healthyWhile February is known to most as marking the end of winter and holidays like Valentine’s Day, February is also American Heart Month, which gives an opportunity for local doctors to help educate residents on heart safety and prevention. With heart disease being the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States each year, understanding the heart and how to live a healthy lifestyle has become more important than ever. “Gene...

St. Mary’s offers advanced heart proceduresRoughly two years ago, Arkansas River Valley residents suffering from heart attacks, or other heart-related ailments, had to travel to Little Rock or Fort Smith for heart-related procedures. Now, with the advent of new physicians and top-of-the-line equipment, St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center offers some of the best cardiovascular treatment in the state. The hospital recently finished retooling its cardiac catheterization labs, which were in...

What to know about screen cleaningFor many of us, spring cleaning includes washing winter dirt and debris off of windows and window screens. Paying extra attention to screens now can end up saving homeowners money, as well as ensuring better views and keeping out bugs. Here’s the lowdown on screens and screen care: Cleaning is key The average home has 12 to 15 window screens, usually made of aluminum or fiberglass with a vinyl coating. Experts recommend washing them twice a ye...